4 ms·

I actually think tons of people want virtual experiences. Concerts seem to be a great use case for VR. Exercise is a great use case. Meetings probably are too,

I actually think tons of people want virtual experiences. Concerts seem to be a great use case for VR. Exercise is a great use case. Meetings probably are too, certainly better than zoom.

PuppyTailWags 4y ago
My greatest concern is that all these virtual experiences are behind a paywall, first hardware and then pay-per-experience. Going for a walk should be free.
- Finnucane 4y ago
  "I want to go for a walk, but not actually walk, and pay for it, while being bombarded by ads" said no one ever.
  - duxup 4y ago
    "Hello Neighbor. I'm not actually a woman but this is the default avatar and I don't want to pay money to change it."
    - Finnucane 4y ago
      "Hello Neighbor. I'd like you to join my professional network on LinkedIn."
    - avgDev 4y ago
      "Hello neighbor, you won't believe what happened to this dog, come with me to learn more."
  - datadata 4y ago
    It could quite honestly depend on exactly where you live, maybe it is already a good idea. Maybe your neighborhood is plagued by cars and pedestrian hostile design, and you don't have time to travel. Maybe it is the middle of a blizzard. Unfortunately I think technology will encourage this, as our society is primarily optimizing for GDP (ad spend) and jobs (lack of free time and neighborhoods focused on life outside work).
    - duxup 4y ago
      I think it says something that a VR use case requires a dystopian future.
      - Finnucane 4y ago
        Dystopian is such a harsh word. I mean, for billionaire tech bros, it's paradise.
      - datadata 4y ago
        It wouldn't be the time humans have willingly created massive problems in order for an emerging technology that is necessary for economic growth to become successful.
        Finnucane 4y ago
        How is this in any way necessary for economic growth?
        datadata 4y ago
        Sorry, I said that backwards. Economic growth is necessary (at least in the capitalist system we are in). We need things to succeed to deliver economic growth. At a certain point large sacrifices will be made to ensure the success of a new industry that promises economic growth. I don't think VR is at this point yet, but it might be soon. Cars in the US and the destruction of passenger trains is a good past example. Cars gave consumers more freedom but at a much greater price and thus role in economic growth. We made great investments into highway systems to subsidize the automobile industry. This came at the expense of passenger trains (among other things) which was a direct competitor to the personal car, but operated more efficiently. Tying back to the original comment, if there is a way to monetize walking that can only be done in VR, incentives will flow towards promoting that VR system to succeed. Those incentives will necessarily undermine the free alternative of actually walking. This is all done in the name of economic growth.
        4y ago
AlanYx 4y ago
I'm having trouble understanding how concerts are a "great use case for VR"... at a concert you sit/stand and look at the stage and listen to the music. Seems like that could be replicated with just a regular display and sound system, but that kind of remote viewing of concerts has never become mainstream. What about VR would change this?
- colinmhayes 4y ago
  Watching a concert on a display isn't immersive imo. You are still acutely aware that you're in your living room.
  - AlanYx 4y ago
    I guess I struggle to understand how being surrounded by hundreds of cartoonish avatars would improve the experience. It would be immersive in a sense, but also pretty clear that I was still not really at a concert.
    - colinmhayes 4y ago
      I think the lack of avatars is part of what makes it compelling. Sure some people will do the "communal" experience, but others will have a set up that makes it feel like the band is performing for only them and their friends. Real concerts are sweaty and smelly and hot and other people can be distracting.
    - trophycase 4y ago
      You can see it from any angle, with an infinite number of added effects possible.
- michaelt 4y ago
  It depends what you think the important differences between a broadcast concert and an in-person concert are. Is it the limitless resolution, and great venue acoustics and sound system? Is it about the fact you're meeting up with your friends? Is it about the atmosphere and energy of the crowd? The dancing, the fighting, the mingling? Is it about the fact that if the performer tells you to make some noise, doing that at home to a video stream would be absurd? Is it about the fact you might meet an attractive stranger, and go home with them? Is it the fact you can buy drinks? Is it about the intrinsic authenticity of a performance by a human, not a recording played by a machine or a copy of a copy of a copy? Is it about being a singular moment, having experiences that can't be paused or replayed and are all the more real for it? Is it about getting out of the house, and not being a shut-in? Is it the cultural cachet and the fact you can post pictures on social media so other people will know you're cool? Some of these a metaverse concert might be able to provide - you could produce a very high quality video stream with good sound, and an ability to talk with your friends. Others the metaverse will never provide.

I actually think tons of people want virtual experiences. Concerts seem to be a great use case for VR. Exercise is a great use case. Meetings probably are too, certainly better than zoom.

PuppyTailWags 4y ago

My greatest concern is that all these virtual experiences are behind a paywall, first hardware and then pay-per-experience. Going for a walk should be free.

Finnucane 4y ago
"I want to go for a walk, but not actually walk, and pay for it, while being bombarded by ads" said no one ever.
- duxup 4y ago
  "Hello Neighbor. I'm not actually a woman but this is the default avatar and I don't want to pay money to change it."
  - Finnucane 4y ago
    "Hello Neighbor. I'd like you to join my professional network on LinkedIn."
  - avgDev 4y ago
    "Hello neighbor, you won't believe what happened to this dog, come with me to learn more."
- datadata 4y ago
  It could quite honestly depend on exactly where you live, maybe it is already a good idea. Maybe your neighborhood is plagued by cars and pedestrian hostile design, and you don't have time to travel. Maybe it is the middle of a blizzard. Unfortunately I think technology will encourage this, as our society is primarily optimizing for GDP (ad spend) and jobs (lack of free time and neighborhoods focused on life outside work).
  - duxup 4y ago
    I think it says something that a VR use case requires a dystopian future.
    - Finnucane 4y ago
      Dystopian is such a harsh word. I mean, for billionaire tech bros, it's paradise.
    - datadata 4y ago
      It wouldn't be the time humans have willingly created massive problems in order for an emerging technology that is necessary for economic growth to become successful.
      - Finnucane 4y ago
        How is this in any way necessary for economic growth?
        datadata 4y ago
        Sorry, I said that backwards. Economic growth is necessary (at least in the capitalist system we are in). We need things to succeed to deliver economic growth. At a certain point large sacrifices will be made to ensure the success of a new industry that promises economic growth. I don't think VR is at this point yet, but it might be soon. Cars in the US and the destruction of passenger trains is a good past example. Cars gave consumers more freedom but at a much greater price and thus role in economic growth. We made great investments into highway systems to subsidize the automobile industry. This came at the expense of passenger trains (among other things) which was a direct competitor to the personal car, but operated more efficiently. Tying back to the original comment, if there is a way to monetize walking that can only be done in VR, incentives will flow towards promoting that VR system to succeed. Those incentives will necessarily undermine the free alternative of actually walking. This is all done in the name of economic growth.
        4y ago

AlanYx 4y ago

I'm having trouble understanding how concerts are a "great use case for VR"... at a concert you sit/stand and look at the stage and listen to the music. Seems like that could be replicated with just a regular display and sound system, but that kind of remote viewing of concerts has never become mainstream. What about VR would change this?

colinmhayes 4y ago
Watching a concert on a display isn't immersive imo. You are still acutely aware that you're in your living room.
- AlanYx 4y ago
  I guess I struggle to understand how being surrounded by hundreds of cartoonish avatars would improve the experience. It would be immersive in a sense, but also pretty clear that I was still not really at a concert.
  - colinmhayes 4y ago
    I think the lack of avatars is part of what makes it compelling. Sure some people will do the "communal" experience, but others will have a set up that makes it feel like the band is performing for only them and their friends. Real concerts are sweaty and smelly and hot and other people can be distracting.
  - trophycase 4y ago
    You can see it from any angle, with an infinite number of added effects possible.
michaelt 4y ago
It depends what you think the important differences between a broadcast concert and an in-person concert are. Is it the limitless resolution, and great venue acoustics and sound system? Is it about the fact you're meeting up with your friends? Is it about the atmosphere and energy of the crowd? The dancing, the fighting, the mingling? Is it about the fact that if the performer tells you to make some noise, doing that at home to a video stream would be absurd? Is it about the fact you might meet an attractive stranger, and go home with them? Is it the fact you can buy drinks? Is it about the intrinsic authenticity of a performance by a human, not a recording played by a machine or a copy of a copy of a copy? Is it about being a singular moment, having experiences that can't be paused or replayed and are all the more real for it? Is it about getting out of the house, and not being a shut-in? Is it the cultural cachet and the fact you can post pictures on social media so other people will know you're cool? Some of these a metaverse concert might be able to provide - you could produce a very high quality video stream with good sound, and an ability to talk with your friends. Others the metaverse will never provide.